The Los Angeles Dodgers were back home Monday nigh to play their first game at Dodger Stadium in the last 12 days. They began a 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

Clayton Kershaw got off to a quick and efficient start by needing just one pitch to get one out. However, he then walked DJ LeMahieu in an eight-pitch plate appearance, which was followed by a Nolan Arenado double. Carlos Gonzalez’s RBI groundout gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead before Kershaw managed to get out of the inning.

Joc Pederson led off the bottom of the first with a bloop single that dropped between a trio of Rockies who miscommunicated. Jon Gray picked his teammates up by striking out Chase Utley and picking off Pederson. Adrian Gonzalez then went down swinging for the third out.

Kershaw responded to the uncharacteristically wild first inning by striking out the side in the second. Following Andre Ethier’s one-out single in the bottom of the second, Corey Seager doubled to the right-center field gap. Yasmani Grandal remained hitless in his last 36 at-bats, but managed to tie the game with a sacrifice fly.

Gray intentionally walked Scott Schebler and went to a full count against Kershaw before striking out his counterpart to end the inning with the game tied at 1-1. Just as quickly as Kershaw laid to rest concerns over his control, he walked Gray to start the third inning.

It didn’t amount to anything however, as Jose Reyes hit into a double play and LeMahieu grounded out. Gray set the Dodgers down in order in the bottom half of the third, getting Pederson and and Gonzalez swinging to give him six strikeouts in the game.

Gray hit Seager with a pitch to put the rookie shortstop aboard with two outs in the fourth. Grandal lined a base hit to right field, which put runners on the corners as Seager just beat Carlos Gonzalez’s throw to third base. The Dodgers were again turned away as Gray struck out Schebler to end the inning.

About The Author

Matt is a journalist from Whittier, California. A Cal State Long Beach graduate, Matthew occasionally contributes to Lakers Nation, and previously served as the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Football. You can follow Matt on Twitter @mmoreno1015